Pacific Islands, explained.

Honour guards for the visit of Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai to Beijing in May (Photo: Fred Dufour via Getty)

Pacific links: China challenge, an “Elevation”, power lifting, more

<p>Between a Step Up, Reset, Uplift and Elevation, plenty of diplomatic attention is focused on the region.</p>

Alexandre Dayant

17 July 20191 min read

Last week, China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said his country was willing to deepen military ties with the Pacific. Later that week, Hugh White set out why he believes China might set up a military base in the Pacific. He also said Australia should stop trying to push Beijing out of the region and should instead focus its effort on building a force that could counter Chinese bases in the neighborhood.

White’s concerns were echoed last week with the extradition of six Chinese from Port Villa to China, where it appears Chinese authorities have succeeded in placing Chinese law and legal standards above those of Vanuatu. Pundits worry about the erosion of Vanuatu’s democratic rights at Beijing’s bidding. It also reminded me of a similar story in 2017, where 77 Chinese nationals were deported from Fiji by Chinese authorities.

The events last week made for interesting timing after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands for the development of a national sports stadium.

Hugh White with Lowy’s Richard McGregor this week

Alexandre Dayant

About the author

Alexandre Dayant

Alexandre Dayant is a senior economist and former Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre, a dedicated policy research centre within the Lowy Institute.

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Last week, China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said his country was willing to deepen military ties with the Pacific. Later that week, Hugh White set out why he believes China might set up a military base in the Pacific. He also said Australia should stop trying to push Beijing out of the region and should instead focus its effort on building a force that could counter Chinese bases in the neighborhood.

White’s concerns were echoed last week with the extradition of six Chinese from Port Villa to China, where it appears Chinese authorities have succeeded in placing Chinese law and legal standards above those of Vanuatu. Pundits worry about the erosion of Vanuatu’s democratic rights at Beijing’s bidding. It also reminded me of a similar story in 2017, where 77 Chinese nationals were deported from Fiji by Chinese authorities.

The events last week made for interesting timing after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands for the development of a national sports stadium.

Pacific links: China challenge, an “Elevation”, power lifting, more

The Interpreter on Pacific Islands

Australia’s Pacific amnesia

Vanuatu’s bid to settle France’s claim to Matthew and Hunter

The donor-dependency trap in multilateral finance

More on Pacific Islands

Pacific unity on the line: The 2026 PIF Leaders' Meeting

The Pacific’s deep-sea fault line

Fault lines beneath the Blue Pacific: Deep-sea mining and the future of Pacific unity

2026 Allan Gyngell Lecture: Senator Penny Wong

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The Interpreter on Pacific Islands

Australia’s Pacific amnesia

Vanuatu’s bid to settle France’s claim to Matthew and Hunter

The donor-dependency trap in multilateral finance

More on Pacific Islands

Pacific unity on the line: The 2026 PIF Leaders' Meeting

The Pacific’s deep-sea fault line

Fault lines beneath the Blue Pacific: Deep-sea mining and the future of Pacific unity

2026 Allan Gyngell Lecture: Senator Penny Wong

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